List of sumo tournament top division champions

This is a list of all professional sumo wrestlers who have won the championship for the top division at a Japanese grand sumo tournament since 1909, when the current championship system was established.

1958 to present The table lists all champions since 1958, the advent of the bimonthly tournament schedule. The championship is determined by the wrestler with the highest win–loss score after fifteen bouts, held at a rate of one per day over the duration of the 15-day tournament. In the event of a tie for first place, a play-off is held between the wrestlers concerned.

Below a wrestler's ring name () their rank and win–loss score that tournament are given. –P indicates an additional bout fought in a . Number of championships are given in parentheses. (x) marks a singular career championship. † marks a before a name change. ‡ marks a after a name change. Names in bold mark an undefeated tournament victory. Names in italics mark a victory by a , a wrestler ranked outside of the privileged ranks.

January March May July September Novemberyearin sumoTokyoOsakaTokyoNagoyaTokyoKyushu2026 Aonishiki Ow 12–3–P (2) Kirishima II‡ Se 12–3 (3) Wakatakakage Ke 12–3–P (2) Aonishiki S2w 12–3–PP (3) Ōnosato Ye 12–3 (6) 2025 Hōshōryū O1w 12–3–PP (2) Ōnosato Oe 12–3–P (3) Ōnosato Oe 14–1 (4) Kotoshoho M15e 13–2 (x) Ōnosato Ye 13–2–P (5) Aonishiki Se 12–3–P (1)2024 Terunofuji Y 13–2–P (9) Takerufuji M17e 13–2 (x) Ōnosato Kw 12–3 (1) Terunofuji Y 12–3–P (10) Ōnosato S1w 13–2 (2) Kotozakura II O1e 14–1 (x) 2023 Takakeishō O 12–3 (3) Kiribayama† S2e 12–3–P (1) Terunofuji Y 14–1 (8) Hōshōryū S1e 12–3–P (1) Takakeishō O1w 11–4–P (4) Kirishima II‡ O1w 13–2 (2)2022 Mitakeumi Se 13–2 (3) Wakatakakage Se 12–3–P (1) Terunofuji Y 12–3 (7) Ichinojō M2w 12–3 (x) Tamawashi M3e 13–2 (2) Abi M9w 12–3–PP (x)2021 Daieishō M1w 13–2 (x) Terunofuji Se 12–3 (3) Terunofuji O2w 12–3–P (4) Hakuhō Y 15–0 (45) Terunofuji Yw 13–2 (5) Terunofuji Y 15–0 (6)2020 Tokushōryū M17w 14–1 (x) Hakuhō Ye 13–2 (44) (COVID-19) Terunofuji M17e 13–2 (2) Shōdai S1e 13–2 (x) Takakeishō O1e 13–2–P (2)2019 Tamawashi Sw 13–2 (1) Hakuhō Ye 15–0 (42) Asanoyama M8w 12–3 (x) Kakuryū Ye 14–1 (6) Mitakeumi Se 12–3–P (2) Hakuhō Yw 14–1 (43)2018 Tochinoshin M3w 14–1 (x) Kakuryū Y1e 13–2 (4) Kakuryū Y1e 14–1 (5) Mitakeumi Sw 13–2 (1) Hakuhō Y1w 15–0 (41) Takakeishō Ke 13–2 (1)2017 Kisenosato O1e 14–1 (1) Kisenosato Y2w 13–2–P (2) Hakuhō Y2w 15–0 (38) Hakuhō Y1e 14–1 (39) Harumafuji Y1e 11–4–P (9) Hakuhō Y1w 14–1 (40)2016 Kotoshōgiku O2e 14–1 (x) Hakuhō Y1w 14–1 (36) Hakuhō Y1e 15–0 (37) Harumafuji Y2e 13–2 (8) Gōeidō O2e 15–0 (x) Kakuryū Y1w 14–1 (3)2015 Hakuhō Y1e 15–0 (33) Hakuhō Y1e 14–1 (34) Terunofuji S1 12–3 (1) Hakuhō Y1e 14–1 (35) Kakuryū Y1w 12–3–P (2) Harumafuji Y2e 13–2 (7)2014 Hakuhō Yw 14–1–P (28) Kakuryū O1e 14–1 (1) Hakuhō Y1e 14–1 (29) Hakuhō Y1e 13–2 (30) Hakuhō Y1e 14–1 (31) Hakuhō Y1e 14–1 (32)2013 Harumafuji Yw 15–0 (5) Hakuhō Yw 15–0 (24) Hakuhō Ye 15–0 (25) Hakuhō Ye 12–3 (26) Hakuhō Ye 14–1 (27) Harumafuji Yw 14–1 (6)2012 Baruto O1e 14–1 (x) Hakuhō Y 13–2–P (22) Kyokutenhō M7w 12–3–P (x) Harumafuji O2w 15–0 (3) Harumafuji O1e 15–0 (4) Hakuhō Ye 14–1 (23)2011 Hakuhō Y 14–1 (18) (match-fixing) Hakuhō Y 13–2 (19) Harumafuji O1w 14–1 (2) Hakuhō Y 13–2 (20) Hakuhō Y 14–1 (21)2010 Asashōryū Yw 13–2 (25) Hakuhō Y 15–0 (13) Hakuhō Y 15–0 (14) Hakuhō Y 15–0 (15) Hakuhō Y 15–0 (16) Hakuhō Y 14–1–P (17)2009 Asashōryū Yw 14–1–P (23) Hakuhō Yw 15–0 (10) Harumafuji O1w 14–1–P (1) Hakuhō Ye 14–1 (11) Asashōryū Yw 14–1–P (24) Hakuhō Yw 15–0 (12)2008 Hakuhō Ye 14–1 (6) Asashōryū Yw 13–2 (22) Kotoōshū O2w 14–1 (x) Hakuhō Yw 15–0 (7) Hakuhō Ye 14–1 (8) Hakuhō Ye 13–2–P (9)2007 Asashōryū Y 14–1 (20) Hakuhō O1w 13–2–P (2) Hakuhō O1e 15–0 (3) Asashōryū Ye 14–1 (21) Hakuhō Yw 13–2 (4) Hakuhō Ye 12–3 (5)2006 Tochiazuma II O2e 14–1 (3) Asashōryū Y 13–2–P (16) Hakuhō O3w 14–1–P (1) Asashōryū Y 14–1 (17) Asashōryū Y 13–2 (18) Asashōryū Y 15–0 (19)2005 Asashōryū Y 15–0 (10) Asashōryū Y 14–1 (11) Asashōryū Y 15–0 (12) Asashōryū Y 13–2 (13) Asashōryū Y 13–2–P (14) Asashōryū Y 14–1 (15)2004 Asashōryū Y 15–0 (5) Asashōryū Y 15–0 (6) Asashōryū Y 13–2–P (7) Asashōryū Y 13–2 (8) Kaiō O1e 13–2 (5) Asashōryū Y 13–2 (9)2003 Asashōryū O1e 14–1 (2) Chiyotaikai O2e 13–2 (3) Asashōryū Ye 13–2 (3) Kaiō O1e 12–3 (4) Asashōryū Ye 13–2 (4) Tochiazuma II O1w 13–2 (2)2002 Tochiazuma II O2w 13–2–P (1) Musashimaru Ye 13–2 (10) Musashimaru Ye 13–2 (11) Chiyotaikai O1e 14–1 (2) Musashimaru Ye 13–2 (12) Asashōryū O2e 14–1 (1)2001 Takanohana II‡ Y2e 14–1–P (21) Kaiō O1e 13–2 (2) Takanohana II‡ Ye 13–2–P (22) Kaiō O3e 13–2 (3) Kotomitsuki M2e 13–2 Musashimaru Ye 13–2 (9)2000 Musōyama S2e 13–2 (x) Takatōriki M14e 13–2 (x) Kaiō K1w 14–1 (1) Akebono Y1e 13–2 (10) Musashimaru Y1w 14–1 (8) Akebono Y1w 14–1 (11)1999 Chiyotaikai S1e 13–2–P (1) Musashimaru O1e 13–2 (4) Musashimaru O1e 13–2 (5) Dejima S1w 13–2–P (x) Musashimaru Y1w 12–3 (6) Musashimaru Y1e 12–3 (7)1998 Musashimaru O1w 12–3 (3) Wakanohana III‡ O2e 14–1 (4) Wakanohana III‡ O1e 12–3 (5) Takanohana II‡ Y1w 14–1 (19) Takanohana II‡ Y1e 13–2 (20) Kotonishiki M12w 14–1 (2)1997 Wakanohana III‡ O1e 14–1 (3) Takanohana II‡ Ye 12–3–PP (16) Akebono Yw 13–2–P (9) Takanohana II‡ Ye 13–2 (17) Takanohana II‡ Ye 13–2–P (18) Takanonami O1w 14–1–P (2)1996 Takanonami O2e 14–1–P (1) Takanohana II‡ Ye 14–1 (12) Takanohana II‡ Ye 14–1 (13) Takanohana II‡ Ye 13–2 (14) Takanohana II‡ Ye 15–0 (15) Musashimaru O1w 11–4–PPP (2)1995 Takanohana II‡ Ye 13–2–P (8) Akebono Yw 14–1 (8) Takanohana II‡ Yw 14–1 (9) Takanohana II‡ Ye 13–2 (10) Takanohana II‡ Ye 15–0 (11) Wakanohana III‡ O1w 12–3–P (2)1994 Takanohana II‡ Ow 14–1 (4) Akebono Y 12–3–PP (7) Takanohana II‡ Ow 14–1 (5) Musashimaru O1w 15–0 (1) Takanohana II‡ O2w 15–0 (6) Takanohana II‡ O1e 15–0 (7)1993 Akebono Oe 13–2 (3) Wakahanada† K1e 14–1 (1) Takanohana II‡ Oe 14–1 (3) Akebono Y 13–2–PP (4) Akebono Y 14–1 (5) Akebono Y 13–2–P (6)1992 Takahanada† M2e 14–1 (1) Konishiki Oe 13–2 (3) Akebono Sw 13–2 (1) Mitoizumi M1w 13–2 (x) Takahanada† K1w 14–1 (2) Akebono O1w 14–1 (2)1991 Kirishima I Oe 14–1 (x) Hokutoumi‡ Y1e 13–2 (8) Asahifuji Y2e 14–1–P (4) Kotofuji M13e 14–1 (x) Kotonishiki M5e 13–2 (1) Konishiki Ow 13–2 (2)1990 Chiyonofuji Y1e 14–1 (30) Hokutoumi‡ Y1w 13–2–PPP (6) Asahifuji O2w 14–1 (2) Asahifuji O1e 14–1 (3) Hokutoumi‡ Y2e 14–1 (7) Chiyonofuji Y2e 13–2 (31)1989 Hokutoumi‡ Y2e 14–1–P (4) Chiyonofuji Y1w 14–1 (27) Hokutoumi‡ Y2e 13–2–P (5) Chiyonofuji Y2e 12–3–P (28) Chiyonofuji Y1w 15–0 (29) Konishiki O2w 14–1 (1)1988 Asahifuji O1e 14–1 (1) Ōnokuni Y2e 13–2–P (2) Chiyonofuji Y2e 14–1 (23) Chiyonofuji Y1e 15–0 (24) Chiyonofuji Y1e 15–0 (25) Chiyonofuji Y1e 14–1 (26)1987 Chiyonofuji Ye 12–3–P (20) Hokutoumi‡ O1w 12–3 (2) Ōnokuni O1w 15–0 (1) Chiyonofuji Y1e 14–1 (21) Hokutoumi‡ Y1w 14–1 (3) Chiyonofuji Y2e 15–0 (22)1986 Chiyonofuji Ye 13–2 (15) Hoshi† Sw 13–2 (1) Chiyonofuji Y 13–2 (16) Chiyonofuji Y 14–1–P (17) Chiyonofuji Ye 14–1 (18) Chiyonofuji Ye 13–2 (19)1985 Chiyonofuji Y1e 15–0 (11) Asashio IV O2e 13–2 (x) Chiyonofuji Ye 14–1 (12) Hokuten'yū O2e 13–2 (2) Chiyonofuji Ye 15–0 (13) Chiyonofuji Ye 14–1 (14)1984 Takanosato Y1w 13–2 (4) Wakashimazu O1e 14–1 (1) Kitanoumi Y1w 15–0 (24) Wakashimazu O2e 15–0 (2) Tagaryū M12w 13–2 (x) Chiyonofuji Y1w 14–1 (10)1983 Kotokaze O1w 14–1–P (2) Chiyonofuji Ye 15–0 (8) Hokuten'yū Se 14–1 (1) Takanosato O1e 14–1 (2) Takanosato Y1w 15–0 (3) Chiyonofuji Y1w 14–1 (9)1982 Kitanoumi Y1wYO 13–2 (23) Chiyonofuji Y1w 13–2 (4) Chiyonofuji Y1e 13–2–P (5) Chiyonofuji Y1e 12–3 (6) Takanosato Ow 15–0 (1) Chiyonofuji Y1e 14–1 (7)1981 Chiyonofuji Se 14–1–P (1) Kitanoumi Y1e 13–2 (21) Kitanoumi Ye 14–1 (22) Chiyonofuji O 14–1 (2) Kotokaze Se 12–3 (1) Chiyonofuji Y2e 12–3–P (3)1980 Mienoumi Y1e 15–0 (3) Kitanoumi Y1w 13–2 (18) Kitanoumi Y1e 14–1 (19) Kitanoumi Y1e 15–0 (20) Wakanohana II‡ Y1w 14–1 (4) Wajima Y2e 14–1 (14)1979 Kitanoumi Y2e 14–1 (15) Kitanoumi Y1e 15–0 (16) Wakanohana II‡ Y1w 14–1 (3) Wajima Y2e 14–1–P (13) Kitanoumi Y1w 13–2 (17) Mienoumi Y1wYO 14–1 (2)1978 Kitanoumi Yw 15–0 (10) Kitanoumi Ye 13–2–P (11) Kitanoumi Ye 14–1–P (12) Kitanoumi Y1e 15–0 (13) Kitanoumi Y1e 14–1 (14) Wakanohana II‡ Y1w 15–0 (2)1977 Wajima Yw 13–2 (10) Kitanoumi Yw 15–0 (8) Wakamisugi II† O1w 13–2 (1) Wajima Yw 15–0 (11) Kitanoumi Yw 15–0 (9) Wajima Yw 14–1 (12)1976 Kitanoumi Ye 13–2 (5) Wajima Yw 13–2–P (8) Kitanoumi Yw 13–2–P (6) Wajima Ye 14–1 (9) Kaiketsu M4w 14–1 (2) Kitanoumi M4w 14–1 (7)1975 Kitanoumi Ye 12–3 (3) Takanohana I Oe 13–2–P (1) Kitanoumi Ye 13–2 (4) Kongō M1w 13–2 (x) Takanohana I Ow 12–3–P (2) Mienoumi S1e 13–2 (1)1974 Kitanoumi Se 14–1 (1) Wajima Y1e 12–3 (5) Kitanoumi O1e 13–2 (2) Wajima Y1e 13–2–P (6) Wajima Ye 14–1 (7) Kaiketsu K2w 12–3–P (1)1973 Kotozakura O1e 14–1 (4) Kitanofuji Yw 14–1 (10) Wajima O1e 15–0 (2) Kotozakura Y1w 14–1–P (5) Wajima Y2e 15–0 (3) Wajima Y1e 12–2–1 (4)1972 Tochiazuma I M5w 11–4 (x) Hasegawa S1e 12–3–P (x) Wajima S1w 12–3 (1) Takamiyama II M4e 13–2 (x) Kitanofuji Y 15–0 (9) Kotozakura O2w 14–1 (3)1971 Taihō Y1w 14–1–P (32) Tamanoumi II‡ Y1e 14–1 (5) Kitanofuji Y2e 15–0 (6) Tamanoumi II‡ Yw 15–0 (6) Kitanofuji Yw 15–0 (7) Kitanofuji Y 13–2 (8)1970 Kitanofuji 01e 13–2–P (3) Taihō Y2e 14–1 (31) Kitanofuji Y1w 14–1 (4) Kitanofuji Y1e 13–2–P (5) Tamanoumi II‡ Y1w 14–1 (3) Tamanoumi II‡ Y1e 14–1–P (4)1969 Taihō Ye 15–0 (29) Kotozakura O2e 13–2 (2) Taihō Yw 13–2 (30) Kiyokuni O1e 12–3–P (x) Tamanoshima† O2w 13–2 (2) Kitanofuji O1w 13–2 (2)1968 Sadanoyama Y1e 13–2 (6) Wakanami M8e 13–2 (x) Tamanoshima† O1e 13–2 (1) Kotozakura O2w 13–2 (1) Taihō Yw 14–1 (27) Taihō Ye 15–0 (28)1967 Taihō Y1e 15–0 (24) Kitanofuji O1e 14–1 (1) Taihō Y1e 14–1 (25) Kashiwado Y1w 14–1 (5) Taihō Y2e 15–0 (26) Sadanoyama Y1w 12–3 (5)1966 Kashiwado Y2w 14–1 (4) Taihō Y2e 13–2 (19) Taihō Y1e 14–1 (20) Taihō Y1e 14–1 (21) Taihō Y1e 13–2–P (22) Taihō Y1e 15–0 (23)1965 Sadanoyama O1e 14–1 (3) Taihō Y1e 14–1 (16) Sadanoyama Y1w 14–1 (4) Taihō Y1w 13–2 (17) Kashiwado Y2e 12–3–PP (3) Taihō Y2e 13–2 (18)1964 Taihō Ye 15–0 (12) Taihō Y1e 15–0 (13) Tochinoumi Y2e 13–2 (3) Fujinishiki M9w 14–1 (x) Taihō Y1w 14–1 (14) Taihō Y1e 14–1 (15)1963 Taihō Ye 14–1 (9) Taihō Ye 14–1 (10) Taihō Ye 15–0 (11) Kitabayama O3e 13–2–P (x) Kashiwado Yw 15–0 (2) Tochinoumi O1w 14–1 (2)1962 Taihō Y1e 13–2 (5) Sadanoyama S2e 13–2–P (2) Tochinoumi S1w 14–1 (1) Taihō Ye 14–1 (6) Taihō Ye 13–2–P (7) Taihō Ye 13–2 (8)1961 Kashiwado O1w 13–2 (1) Asashio III Yw 13–2 (5) Sadanoyama M13w 12–3 (1) Taihō O1e 13–2 (2) Taihō O1e 12–3–PP (3) Taihō Y1w 13–2 (4)1960 Tochinishiki Y1e 14–1 (10) Wakanohana I Y2e 15–0 (8) Wakamisugi I M4w 14–1 (x) Wakanohana I Ye 13–2 (9) Wakanohana I Ye 13–2 (10) Taihō S1e 13–2 (1)1959 Wakanohana I Y1e 14–1 (5) Tochinishiki Yw 14–1 (8) Wakanohana I Y2e 14–1–P (6) Tochinishiki Y1e 15–0 (9) Wakanohana I Y1wYO 14–1 (7) Wakahaguro Oe 13–2 (x)1958 Wakanohana I O1e 13–2 (2) Asashio III Oe 13–2–P (3) Tochinishiki Y2e 14–1 (7) Wakanohana I Y2e 13–2 (3) Wakanohana I Y1e 14–1 (4) Asashio III O1w 14–1 (4)

1909 to 1957 The tables list all champions until 1957, before the conception of the current bimonthly schedule. The system was less regularized between years, with a different number of tournaments held at different times and in different venues, and often with a changing number of bouts fought in each tournament.

Playoffs were first introduced in 1947. From 1909 until 1946 a tie for first place would not be resolved, but rather the highest ranked wrestler would automatically be considered the champion.

January March May September November TokyoOsakaTokyoTokyoKyushu 1957 Chiyonoyama Y2w 15–0 (6) Asashio III S1w 13–2 (2) Annenyama K1w 13–2 (x) Tochinishiki Y1e 13–2 (6) Tamanoumi I M14e 15–0 (x)